The meeting that is known as Diocesan Convention in the Diocese of Lexington is made up of several segments or components — the spiritual/theological undergird the meeting; worship begins, supports and concludes it. Business sessions order the ongoing work of the diocese between meetings; legislative focuses attention on specific issues facing church and culture, stimulates an ordered debate and hopefully leads to healthy change; educational offers resources of ministry and fellowship builds the Body of Christ.

Resolutions need to be submitted well before convention, in order for them to be considered in a prayerful and deliberate manner. While differences of opinion may be stimulated by the consideration of resolutions, the debate on issues which are truly important to members of the convention as Christian persons also offers a way of learning and growing, and an ordered, rational way of exchanging ideas. A resolutions discussion requires careful listening, and the speaking of the mind and heart in loving, considered ways. In order to facilitate a productive legislative session, resolutions must be in the hands of deputies before the convention for prayerful consideration.

RESOLUTIONS

There is an increasing interest in expanding the resolutions component of our diocesan convention to be held Feb. 20-22, 2003. In order to do this we need to have some good thought-provoking resolutions submitted well before the convention. This will assist us all in considering them in a prayerful and deliberate manner.

Why this interest in resolutions? Resolutions focus our attention on specific issues facing the church, stimulate an ordered debate and hopefully lead to healthy change. Many even think such discussion is fun and exciting and a positive experience for our diocesan community. Such a debate can be considered a way of stretching ourselves as Christians and a rational way of looking toward new horizons. A resolutions discussion requires listening carefully and speaking our minds and hearts in a loving, considered way.

Who may submit a resolution? Deputies to convention, congregations, clergy — actually any individual who is a member of a parish or mission in the diocese. Send your resolutions to the Diocese at P.O. Box 610, Lexington, Ky. 40588-0610.

Drafting resolutions for convention should not be a daunting task and is not filled with great mystery. A resolution is simply a way for the convention to act on an issue. When a resolution is proposed it puts into form what action the convention will take if the resolution is adopted. So, if a committee wants the convention to take a particular action, it should draft a resolution asking to take action in as simple a form as possible.

Drafting a resolution calls for clarity of purpose. A person who contemplates drafting a resolution should first consider the following questions:

1. What is the issue?

2. Why should the church address this issue?

3. What should be the church’s position on this issue?

4. Who should be urged, directed, or instructed to act on this issue?

5. What action should result?

If these questions are clearly addressed, a resolution will be effective.

A resolution should take the following form:

1. Title of the resolution.

2. Name of the presenter(s) and/or church, association, or committee that is proposing the resolution.

3. The reasons for proposing action (with each phrase beginning with WHEREAS) -- more about this section later.

4. The specific action to be taken (with each phrase beginning with BE IT RESOLVED). Details on the preparation of this portion of a resolution can be found in Robert’s Rules of Order. I have set out with more particularity the details of a resolution with a proposed form below.

Over the years there have been many resolutions proposed that contain a long set of reasons for passing the resolution in a long list of whereas clauses. This is not recommended. Such a list of clauses makes for difficulty in reading and difficulty in determining what it is that the convention is being asked to do. The sections of the resolution that are the numbered “Resolved” sections are the only parts that are the action of the convention. The whereas clauses are not adopted by the convention when a resolution passes. Further, adding a large number of controversial whereas clauses tends to distract the discussion of the exact action to be taken. Limiting the number of whereas clauses, or completely eliminating them, if possible, allows the convention to focus on the exact action that it is being asked to take. If you must try to explain the reasons for the resolution, the best thing to do is to add after the end of the Resolved clauses a clearly labeled area of discussion.

A sample of a resolution that will be heard by General Convention in 2003 that is in good form follows:

Resolved, the House of ____ concurring, the 24th General Convention receive with thanks the report of the visitors representing the Executive Council in the implementation of Resolution A045 of the 73rd General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, the House of ____ concurring, that we give thanks for the work of the Holy Spirit within our Communion through the life-giving ministry of ordained women; and be it further

Resolved that, inasmuch as the 72nd General Convention in resolution A052 clarified that the canons regarding the ordination of women are mandatory, that this church engage in a national conversation drawing on the best resources available, including theological, beginning in the year following the 74th General Convention, sponsored by its Executive Council and with implementation by church staff and other appropriate entities, in order to (1) assist the whole church to promote, explore and develop ways to facilitate the ordination of women in every diocese and their full and equal deployment through the church; and (2) prepare for a day a dialogue and reflection to be held at the 75th General Convention in 2006; and be it further

Resolved, that the budget for the 2004-2006 triennium include $50,000 for this national conversation.

The form of this Resolution is good. Note that there are no whereas clauses at all, but that the action that the convention will take if it passes the resolution is clearly stated.

No resolution should have more than one topic. Though there can be more than one resolved clause, the resolution should address only one topic.

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Editor’s Note: Faithmatters/Faith Matters is a regular feature of The Advocate which offers information on ways people put what they believe into action, and perspective on what we do because we are people of faith. The ordering of our lives as a faith community is a more subtle but equally important aspect of Faithmatters/Faith Matters. As Episcopalian Christians, there is an order and discipline to how we conduct our lives in order that we can worship and serve. As we approach the 2003 Convention of the Diocese of Lexington, The Advocate joins the Convention Committee in communicating important aspects of that aspect of diocesan life known as Diocesan Convention. In this issue, the Vice President of the Executive Council and the Chancellor of the Diocese offer the why and how-to of submitting resolutions to be considered by the convention.

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